Extended NBA Mock Draft 6.0

Cleveland is in a very difficult position winning the top pick in a year devoid of an obvious franchise level talent. They have a need for a 3 but there isn't a player with the upside to justify the selection at their pick. Otto Porter would make sense in the 3-5 range, but at #1 overall, he would be a reach. Len has been gaining steam as a possibility at 1 according to sources and reports. He is a big risk, but gives them a potential top 5 center in the league if he reaches his potential. They are said to be unhappy with last year's mid-first rounder Tyler Zeller, and don't see him as an eventual starter. The Cavs continue to shop the pick but suitors continue to low ball them as no GM wants to take on the expectations associated with using the top pick. Though he's been unable to work out for teams, his early season performance dominating both Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley Stein remains fresh in scout's minds. Len shows the agility to get up and down the floor, make plays at the rim and the touch to knock down shots from mid range. While some may knock his fluidity, toughness and consistency, bigs take time. For a 20 year old who is still adjusting to American culture, being away from Ukraine where he grew up, his sophomore season was excellent. NBA Comparison: Jonas Valanciunas

McLemore remains our top overall prospect, but the Cavs appear to be committed to Dion Waiters as their future starter at SG so unless a trade takes place McLemore slips. Orlando has shown interest in McLemore and would do well to add him as their SG of the future. He's the guy in this draft who in our estimation has the greatest shot at becoming a superstar. His outside shot is comparable to a perfect golf swing, it's a thing of beauty. Combine that with freakish athleticism and you have a high level prospect. A shooting guard going first overall has not happened in 40 years. McLemore still has a chance to do it, but it may require a team trading up to 1 for it to happen. NBA Comparison: Ray Allen

Noel could still end up going first but the fear of his knee issues seems to be building. With the unfortunate path that Greg Oden's career has taken, repeated knee injuries strike a lot of fear in teams drafting first. If Noel does slide, most believe that it will be very far as Washington could look to add him to their frontcourt or another team could target him by moving up in a trade. Noel's length, leaping ability and cat-like reflexes make him an extraordinary shot blocker. He shows a willingness to hustle and play hard, which combined with his elite level athleticism is very encouraging. His offensive game, however, is extremely raw and may never be anything more than put back dunks and hook shots. He also needs to get much stronger as his upper body and legs are rail thin, evidenced by his 206 lb combine weight. Granted, added weight could ultimately put even more stress on what appear to be fragile knees. The other real concern is that Noel tore the same ACL that he had torn as a sophomore in high school. After coming back faster than doctors had recommended, some wonder if this recent injury was inevitable and whether there could be structural damage making further injuries to the same knee more likely. NBA Comparison: Larry Sanders

Charlotte is probably the team most devoid of talent in the league and Bennett has been talked about as a possible #1 overall pick and gives them the upside they desire. Despite being 6'7, Bennett's wingspan makes him essentially a 6'9 player and he's got massive shoulders and hands. Bennett wins the award for most vicious dunks in college as he had numerous dunks that reminded fans of Shaq. He lacks the foot speed to defend on the perimeter, essentially making him a stretch 4. Some scouts have even mentioned him as a potential #1 pick, though that's probably a reach, considering he's a tweener and the last 6'9 or under PF to go first was Kenyon Martin. Bennett battled injury problems in high school and appeared to be breaking down some towards the end of the year. His post season shoulder surgery reinforces his reputation for being injury prone and has made it impossible for him to work out for teams leading up to the draft. NBA Comparison: Rodney Rogers

The Suns are in a position to add a solid starter here. Porter is a low risk player and that's music to the ears of any GM, especially one like Ryan McDonough making his first ever selection. Porter made a very impressive jump from his freshman to sophomore seasons, showing no difficulty in becoming the leader of the team and winning Big East Player of the Year. Otto is about as low risk as it gets in this draft, however his ceiling isn't as great as some of the other top prospects making him difficult to take at the top. He's a relentless defender and a pro athlete, but it's unlikely that he will ever be an elite level scorer. He's very thin, but weight/strength shouldn't be an issue at the 3 position. He showed the ability to knock down key shots throughout his short college career. Despite a less than picture perfect jumpshot, he gets results. Porter's consistency and potential makes him a likely top 5 pick in this year's draft. NBA Comparison: Tayshaun Prince

New Orleans will hope that Burke can make the same type of impact that his idol Chris Paul made on the city. Burke's performance against Kansas was legendary, as he refused to allow his team to lose, coming up with all the big plays down the stretch including a game tying 3 in the final seconds. Burke was not only the top PG in the nation this year, he was the best player in the nation. He carried the Wolverines all season with a will to win that was unmatched on the college level. His 6'5 wingspan helps offset his 6'1 frame giving him some additional length to get shots off. On the negative side, Burke lacks elite level speed and athleticism, making it a challenge for him to gain separation on opponents. While detractors may argue that Burke's attributes will make the transition to the next level difficult, his "immeasurables"; competitiveness, heart and determination are off the charts. NBA Comparison: Kyle Lowry

The Kings new management could look to go in a number of directions but a player like Oladipo adds energy and character. Oladipo is a late bloomer who draws rave reviews for his demeanor and personality from those who have spent time around him. While he may lack superstar potential, he appears to be the ultimate glue type player as an overachiever who brings boundless energy. His explosiveness is off the charts (42 inch vert at combine), particularly off of two feet and his shooting and ball handling have shown surprising improvement. At 6'4 in shoes, he's undersized, taking his long term potential down a notch. Some wild comparisons such as Dwyane Wade and even Michael Jordan have been thrown out for Oladipo. But those are unfair for a player who projects as a high level role player, but not a star at the next level. NBA Comparison: Tony Allen

Zeller would fit in nicely with the frontcourt duo of Monroe and Drummond, and Dumars has done an excellent job of snagging talent in this range of the draft, which Zeller would provide. Zeller's stock took the biggest hit during the NCAA tournament as he looked shell shocked in their Sweet Sixteen loss to Syracuse and their 2-3 zone defense. He failed to live up to the preseason hype and much of the time chose to defer instead of taking on the role of the team's star. It obviously took a toll on his draft stock, but a tremendous combine has him back on track. His 35.5 inch standing jump is the highest recorded for a bigman in years. Zeller shows the ability to knock down mid range shots with regularity and runs the floor like a gazelle, which is rare for a 7-footer. Unfortunately his post game did not advance the way many expected, although big men take the longest to develop. It's easy to forget all the positives: Zeller is a 7 footer, he's 19 years old, a hard worker, and similar to Drummond last year, many seem to have overreacted after he failed to live up to the #1 preseason hype. NBA Comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge

KCP is said to be a player on the rise and while he's been linked to the Blazers pick at 10, there's a lot of interest from Minnesota here at 9 as well. He is an underrated athlete with the ability to get to the rack as well as create and knock down shots on the perimeter. He doesn't blow you away in any one area, but he's a good shooter and scorer. After a freshman season in which he struggled with efficiency, he was able to improve upon his shooting from the floor and beyond the arch. He'll get looks in the late lottery and should find a spot somewhere in the first round.NBA Comparison: Michael Redd

Portland added bigman Meyers Leonard last year but don't appear to have a huge need at any position and should probably just add their highest rated player regardless of position. KCP is a real possibility if he's available. Adams was a surprise entry as many felt he needed more time in college to develop his feel for the game and post skills. Adams used a very strong draft combine performance, displaying a surprisingly accurate midrange jumper to likely ensure a place in the top 20, and could even snag a late lotto spot. He is a long term project due to his lack of experience and feel for the game but could really develop into a high level center given time and the right situation. NBA Comparison: Meyers Leonard

Bebe is on the rise after an outstanding adidas Eurocamp in which he validated his surprising season showing maturity and focus. He dominated the competition showing great mobility, length and energy. Sixers GM Sam Hinkie was in attendance and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Bebe climb up to this spot considering the Sixers need for an athletic defender. Nogueira is extremely raw, but players with his size and agility are rare. He had a breakout performance at the Copa America U18 tournament in 2010 and some NBA scouts came away saying he had top 5 pick potential. He lost most of that hype with a dreadful showing at the 2011 adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, but has a huge bounce back season playing in Spain for Estudiantes. "Bebe" developed a reputation for being soft and lazy, but this season he showed dedication and maturity that had been lacking from his game. For him, it's just a matter of becoming more aggressive and maintaining his focus. Bebe has proven himself in the ACB, Europe's best national league and has become our top International prospect for this year's draft. NBA Comparison: Joakim Noah

The pick that OKC landed in the Harden deal isn't as high as they would have liked but gives them an opportunity to add another piece to a young contender. McCollum gives them one more weapon off the bench in their backcourt. As a likely first rounder in 2012, some questioned McCollum's decision to return to campus despite virtually knocking defending champion Duke out of the NCAA tournament single handedly. This year CJ was able to establish himself in many scout's minds before going down with a season ending broken foot. He's got a nasty crossover and ISO game, showing a great ability to get defenders on their heels a la Steph Curry, before pulling up for jumpers. There are some concerns surround his ability to play the PG position as well as defend. Despite missing a large portion of the season, McCollum has a real chance to go top 10 and is a sheik pick as the top PG prospect in this year's draft. NBA Comparison: Stephen Curry

The Mavericks could opt to go International and take a stash pick with free agency in mind (Schroeder possibly) and a possible run for both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. But if they decide to keep things more conventional, a player like MCW could solve their long term PG position if he lives up to his potential. Carter-Williams is a true point guard with tremendous size. At 6'6 he reminds some of the high school version of Shawn Livingston that many became so enamored with before his tragic knee injury. Though not quite the talent, MCW's ability to set teammates up for baskets is special for a player his size. His length, having a near 6'9 wingspan really helps his cause defensively. He has a lot of work to do on his outside shooting and must prove that he can hang with the speed of today's NBA PGs. He would likely pair well with a small 2-guard like Monta Ellis as he would probably be better suited defending 2 guards while running the point. He's got some off court baggage (shop lifting incident) that will need to be addressed in interviews with teams. Plus, the track record for Syracuse products has not been great in recent years. He's another boom or bust pick who could end up a star or not even making it in the league. In a down draft, Carter-Williams has top 10 potential. NBA Comparison: Shaun Livingston

Utah is in need of a point guard and have been linked to Larkin and it's beginning to appear unlikely that they can wait to get him at the 21st pick. Larkin recorded the highest vertical leap ever at the draft combine with a 44 inch running jump. He was not far behind Trey Burke in terms of being a team leader and floor general on the college level and there are a number of scouts that actually prefer Larkin to Burke as a prospect. Larkin lacks Burke's resume and size, but shows much better isolation and separation ability off the dribble. As the son of hall of fame shortstop Barry Larkin, Shane has the pedigree to overcome a significant lack of size. NBA Comparison: DJ Augustin

One of the draft's big mysteries is just how far Shabazz will fall. Some scouts still view him as a top 10 talent, while others have really dropped him a ways. Milwaukee has Mbah Moute and Ilyasova who appears to be on the trade block, so a scorer like Shabazz could fit into their plans. Credit Shabazz for participating in the Chicago draft combine, unfortunately his sub par shooting did not help his cause. Scouts aren't sure what he brings a team if he's asked to be a role player. He's got the desire but has a lot of skill development left to work on. Shabazz had a rough ending to the season with the report coming out that he's actually 20 instead of 19 as his father had purported. He also struggled in UCLA's tourney loss to Minnesota shooting 6-for-18. But he's still one of the most talented prospects in this year's draft with a killer instinct and high level scoring ability. He has turned living with Tourette Syndrome into a positive as he plays with a chip on his shoulder exerting a high level of intensity at all times. Detractors point to his less than 1 assist per game, labeling him one dimensional and even a "ball hog". His character and abilities on the court could ultimately be undervalued by the time the draft takes place. NBA Comparison: Nick Young

Rumors persist that Schroeder has a promise, and our sources have indicated that Boston is the team that has promised him. Obviously the team already has Rondo, but no one is expecting most of the players from this draft to instantly become starters. Schroeder used a tremendous week in Portland at the Hoop Summit in practices and the game to skyrocket up team's draft boards. He combines elite level quickness with solid decision making. While his season in Germany was just average, he seems to have made real strides recently. His shot was a little inconsistent throughout the week of practices in Portland, but looked very solid in the game. His ability to handle the ball in traffic is impressive. He's got an extra gear that allows him to get by defenders any time he wants to. He also possesses good size at the PG position at 6-2 with a 6-7 wingspan. After a great Hoop Summit performance, Schroeder has jumped up into late lotto-mid first round area. NBA Comparison: Darren Collison

Olynyk could go quite a bit higher with teams valuing his readiness, but we've got him slipping a little ways here. He was flying way under the radar before this season, having red shirted last year with Robert Sacre as the team's starting center. He was arguably the most dominant big in the country and despite Gonzaga's flame out in the tourney, he was solid. Kelly lacks great athleticism and quickness, but shows the skill set of a 10 year veteran. Olynyk's ability to defend the pick and roll has led scouts to believe he can make it defensively in the league. He's got a Euro-style game, but many scouts are convinced that his skill level and size will be enough to overcome a lack of sheer athleticism and become a solid NBA post player. NBA Comparison: Spencer Hawes

While we see this being a bit of a reach, there is speculation among scouts that Atlanta has a promise with Karasev with one of their mid first round picks. He decided to stay in Russia up until the draft, instead of doing workouts or participating at the Eurocamp fueling speculation that he has a promise. Already has Olympic experience playing for the Russian National team in London. Karasev did not have a great Hoop Summit shooting just 1-6 from distance, (3-10 overall for 7 pts) but his outside shooting impressed scouts all week and he had a breakout season playing in Russia, as the top player on his team. He lacks great speed and may struggle defensively with slow feet, but he's a decent athlete and shows some ability to get to the basket off the dribble as he did against top defender Rondae Hollis-Jefferson early on in the Hoop Summit. His jump shot, while a bit unorthodox is his biggest strength and should have him in position to grab a late first round spot. His English is good, and he seems to have the type of personality that will allow him to adjust to American culture without much of an issue. NBA Comparison: Danny Green

Plumlee fits into the Cavs win now mentality as a more NBA ready senior prospect. Plumlee was one of the surprises in college this year, but may slip a ways due to his case of "senior-itis". Similar to last year with Tyler Zeller, younger prospects with more perceived upside may ultimately push the senior into the second half of the first round. He added some offensive skills around the basket, and played the year with surprising consistency. He is a better version of his brother Miles who somehow landed in the late first round in 2012. While he's not overly skilled in the post, he shows nice explosiveness, runs the floor well and shows a willingness to fight for rebounds and play tough in the paint. In such a weak draft, Plumlee figures to land in the teens. NBA Comparison: Yi Jianlian

Dieng would fit right into the defensive approach of coach Tom Thibodeau, adding depth to their frontcourt. Dieng benefited from Louisville's deep tourney run, as he was able to display the ability to consistently knock down mid range shots. While not a speed burner, he shows good defensive abilities, particularly in blocking shots. Dieng missed a portion of the year with a fractured wrist, but his return coincided with the team's resurgence as he anchored Louisville's interior defense. His condor like 7'3.5 wingspan makes him a formidable obstacle around the basket. NBA Comparison: Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje

Utah is a young team looking to the future and Adetokoubo will need time before being able to contribute, making this a good fit. Adetokoubo would bring them a nice piece for the future as well as a player to leave in Europe and keep off their books for a few seasons. After watching Adetokoubo in Jesolo, Italy in early June, it's apparent that he needs a lot of time (3 seasons or so) before he'll be ready to play in the NBA. He's very skilled and long, but lacks strength and explosiveness at this point. The problem for him and scouts is that the level of competition that he's played at at is very low, considered by scouts as the equivalent to Div 2-3 college ball, making it more difficult to project him. He shows a nice shooting form and should develop into a good offensive player in the future. NBA Comparison: DerMarr Johnson

22.

[Player: Tony Mitchell 2586] 6-9 236 SF/PF North Texas So.

Mitchell gives the Nets an athletic forward with versatility to play at either forward spot and bring energy off the bench. He surprised many by returning to North Texas for his sophomore year and was unable to enhance his draft stock. Mitchell put up essentially the same numbers as in his FR season and fell from his lofty preseason projections. He is a unique player as he combines freakish length (7-foot-3 wingspan) and explosiveness. He seems to be convinced that he's a 3, and despite his chiseled physique, apparently does not enjoy battling in the paint. NBA Comparison: Thomas Robinson

A slower, halfcourt oriented bigman like Gobert would fit in well with the Pacers backing up Roy Hibbert. Gobert struggled some at the draft combine as he looked mechanical and slow running the floor. On the bight side, he has ridiculous length with a 7-foot-9 wingspan. He also possesses good shooting touch and appears to have a body that will allow him to add strength and eventually battle in the paint in the NBA.He struggled to put up consistent numbers in the French League. So the question is whether teams will be willing to look past the lack of productivity and draft him on potential. His mobility and athleticism are average by NBA standards and he still needs to get tougher and develop a better feel for the game. The concern with Gobert is whether he has the speed and agility in an NBA where quickness often trumps size. NBA Comparison: Shawn Bradley

The Knicks could use a point guard to back up Felton after the retirement of Jason Kidd, so guys like Nate Wolters, Erick Green and Lorenzo Brown are possibilities. Snell would be a solid weapon off the bench for them. He is a player that has been steadily moving up team's boards since declaring for the draft. He had better than expected athleticism numbers at the draft combine and shows excellent ability to knock down outside shots as well as find open looks off the dribble. He's an unselfish player with upside left to develop and just needs to work on his level of intensity and consistency. NBA Comparison: Wesley Person

The Clips could use some additional firepower off the bench and Crabbe has nice scoring ability. The Pac 12 player of the year, Crabbe has a sweet outside shooting stroke and solid athleticism. He also possesses good size for the 2-guard position. The biggest knock against him has been his toughness, level of intensity and consistency. He had a solid finish to the year, leading Cal into the second round of the tourney, but it seems that he's a player that needs a push (or shove) to motivate him. He's not considered a self starter, so landing in the right situation and having coaches and people around him that will facilitate his development will be key. Crabbe didn't always display the best body language and showing that he's a team player with a positive attitude in will be paramount. He'll need to do well in individual match ups in team workouts in order to convince scouts that he's a legitimate first rounder for this year's draft. NBA Comparison: Francisco Garcia

After taking KCP at 9, Minnesota doubles up with another SG at 26 with Hardaway Jr. Hardaway Jr. shows mental toughness and consistent effort at all times. He has a well developed offensive game with good elevation and form on his shot. The big knock on him has always been foot speed as he lacks a great first step to beat opponents off the dribble. He grew up around the game, and that is apparent with his focus and feel. Hardaway lacks great upside and is seen as a likely rotation player, but his toughness and professional approach gives him a After a strong combine, his first round chances continue to improve. NBA Comparison: Shandon Anderson

The Nuggets are a deep and talented team and will look to add more firepower with their late round selection. Rice ran into discipline problems in college and there are some concerns about his maturity/character. But his success in the D league point towards an added maturity and a talent level worthy of a first round selection. He takes after his father Glen Rice Sr. with his great shooting ability and athleticism. NBA Comparison: Anthony Peeler

The Spurs have discovered the fountain of youth with Tim Duncan still playing at an elite level late in his 30s. Bullock would offer the team another weapon off the bench as a shooter. Bullock has been a name on the rise throughout the draft/workout process as he has one elite level skill and that's shooting the ball. He's got prototypical size for the shooting guard position and three years playing in the ACC gives him excellent experience. The one concern scouts have is his inability or unwillingness to attack the rim. NBA Comparison: Calbert Chaney

Reggie Jackson has begun to emerge as Westbrook's back up with some solid performances in the playoffs. Wolters would add more depth and be able to push Jackson in the backcourt. Showing great creativity and a flare for the dramatic, Wolters is a flashy lead guard who some scouts are extremely high on. He is solid athletically but lacks elite quickness off the dribble and needs to improve upon his outside shooting. Wolters struggled some in the tournament matching up with Michigan's Trey Burke although neither guard had a great shooting performance. Wolters was 4th in the nation in scoring and had the single greatest scoring output of the past 3 seasons dropping 53 points against IPFW. NBA Comparison: Goran Dragic

The Suns take a somewhat local guy as SD and PHX are a hop and a skip away, and Franklin offers energy and athleticism to a team in need of talent. Franklin is a bit of a 2/3 tweener, showing better ability to slash and affect the game with his athleticism than smooth guard skills, but he competes hard. Some concerns linger about character and attitude after an incident flipping off a fan and/or referee putting him on the first round bubble. NBA Comparison: Will Barton

I don't understand why Livio Jean-Charles is not predicted to go first round and someone like Adetokoubo is.
The guy had just terrific numbers at the Hoop Summit and the last two french who led in scoring in that event were Tony Parker and Nicolas Batum.
In a poor draft like this I don't understand why GM won't try him in the 20-25 range.

To me, he is the pick the cavs should take at 19 if they don't trade varejao for a SF (presumable if they go for Len at #1).

This is ridiculous you have the thunder taking 2 point guards, you have the timberwolves taking 2 shooting guards, you have the cavs taking 2 centers when they have zeller (Len is fine as the number 1 pick but they wouldnt go plumlee right after)

The Thunder need to think about taking Kelly Olynyk. He can score and rebound. He has range. He would be a perfect fit next to Serge Ibaka on the inside. He could even play with Thabeet or Nick Collison in the second unit.

The Thunder need another scorer. And hopefully a big man. Then I like the pick at 29 for Nate Wolters. A backup guard who can shoot and handle. Not a bad young guard to bring off the bench with Jeremy Lamb.

- I still think Washington will go with Porter over Noel, if both are on the board at their pick.

- If Bennett does go Top 5, I think it'll be to Phoenix. I don't think the top 4 teams would be willing to deal with his injury history, but Phoenix does have a good medical staff so it could be a good fit.

- Even though Zeller is the BPA at 8, I would have to think they would grab a guard, though a rotation of Monroe/Drummond/Zeller would be really good.

- Despite PG being Utah's biggest need, I think they'll wait until free agency to grab a PG (or they may add one in the second round.) Their better off bolstering their depth on the wings or adding frontcourt depth. They only have $17 million in guaranteed contracts for next season, so they can make a play at some good PGs (Calderon, Collison, Evans, etc.) I currently have them taking Bazz, Olynyk, and Siva in my mock.

- The rumors I heard are that Atlanta is definitely going with international player(s). Whether just one or both picks are international is still to be decided. But I think they'll take Giannis if he's still available at 17/18.

- Rudy Gobert is not working out for Indiana. Not to say that Indiana can't still take him, but I doubt they would do it.

- New York either needs to trade down or reach for a point guard. Maybe Cleveland would trade their two second rounders to move up to 24 or maybe OKC would trade 29/32 to move up. Either way, I think New York should take Myck Kabongo. He may be a reach at 24, but I think he's underrated and would fit in well in NY.

- The late first/early second group of SGs will be interesting to watch on draft day. I'm wondering who goes first between Hardaway, Crabbe, Wolters, Bullock, Franklin, Snell, Rice, Ledo, and a bunch of others. There's a lot of guard depth in the 20-40 range. Out of that group, I think Franklin could go the highest, but he may come with character issues and he has been hurt this offfseason, so he may slip to late first or early second on draft night. But Franklin has been linked to Atlanta and I think even Milwaukee needs to at least give him a look.

They are still using the incorrect information about Noel already having torn his ACL in high school. I know he had a knee injury but it wasn't a torn ACL..it was a broken growth plate.

If CJ McCollum falls to the Sixers and they don't take him I will be upset....especially if they get some raw international player like Noguirea. It seems like for every one of those guys that works out there are 10 that aren't in the league anymore....or never even made it. McCollum played at a small college but he proved more in one game against Duke than Noguirea did in a whole season in Spain. Since when is 5 points and 3 rebounds per game a huge bounce back season?

The Knicks should definitely look at Kabongo as their PG of the future. He has improved his jumpshot and is one of the quickest players in the draft. I also think he would fit very well with that team that is already filled with guys who love to shoot.

I think Charlotte will take Len (or Noel if CLE passes on him) and have him work with Ewing. Len to CLE and Noel to CHA seem like better fits considering Gilbert wants to improve rapidly while CHA can be more patient and look to the Wiggins sweepstakes.